FAIRMOUNT GARDENS 
1 
C)foreword 
E x ACH year the choice of new irises l)ecomes a more difficult 
I task, and it requires a great deal of discrimination and 
^ careful study of the countless new varieties in order to select 
those that I wish to introduce, as well as to choose the ones from 
other gardens that are worthy of a place in my catalogue. 
For this reason in the blooming season I visit the gardens of 
many prominent hybridizers and dealers and make selections of 
those that are outstanding, not only in color, form and substance, 
but also in hardiness of growth. 
This year I am introducing several distinctive irises from 
different breeders, and I think you will enjoy knowing something 
about these hybridizers and their interest in this iris work. 
Mr. John Dee Wareham of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been cross¬ 
ing irises for his own enjoyment for many years, and I am very 
much pleased that he has given me the honor of introducing two 
wonderful new irises from his garden. Triptych a magnificent 
deep yellow, and Rookwood that has the same subtle blending of 
bronze and heliotrope that we find in some of the famous Rook¬ 
wood pottery. His work in creating varieties is of special interest 
for he was one of the first to use Dominion and Trojana in breed¬ 
ing, and since then has used almost exclusively his own seedlings 
in the improvement of his irises. His garden is one of the most 
beautiful in Cincinnati, not only for the splendor of his irises, but 
for the beauty of arrangement and harmonious blending of the 
many flowers and shrubs that are features of his garden. 
Dr. Henry Lee Grant of Louisville, Ky., a Director of the 
American Iris Society has been doing very successful work in 
producing new worth while varieties. This last year I was thrilled 
and amazed by the diversity of color and exceptionally fine form 
in his seedlings. Those we selected for introduction this season 
are splendid in form and growth and plainly show the careful 
planning of his crosses. They are Sungleam, a luminous light 
yellow with a glowing heart; French Maid, a richly colored blend 
of rosy bronze, and Moonlight Shadows a cool porcelain white 
with soft blue shadows. 
Mr. T. A. Washington of Nashville, Tenn., has been deeply 
interested in floriculture for many years, and really needs no 
introduction to the iris world for his extensive work in breeding 
all types of irises, has given us many valuable additions to the 
different classes, among them the Bearded iris Mary Geddes which 
was the winner of the Dykes Medal in 1936. Ever since the begin¬ 
ning of my commercial garden he has intrusted his irises to me 
for introduction, and the ones that I have chosen for this year 
are four Bearded irises, Gay Dawn, a brilliant rose and yellow 
blend; Lantern Glow, a warm white flushed with yellow in the 
throat, and the strongest substance that I have ever seen in an 
iris; Shenandoah is a tall and stately blue purple of flaring form 
and great garden value, and Sunny South, a deep vivid yellow 
with excellent branching. Also two Beardless hybrids, Tuckahoe 
is a glowing strawberry red, and Imosa, a rich orange and yellow 
blend. 
For several years I have been visiting the garden of Mr. 
Kenneth D. Smith of Staten Island, N. Y. and have been very 
much impressed by the superiority of his seedlings. He seems to 
have an almost uncanny knowledge of the varieties to cross in 
order to create the wonderful blooms that I have observed in his 
planting of irises. Indeed, in choosing those for introduction it 
was quite a problem to select from the many beautiful seedlings 
the ones for listing this season. They are Diana, a very tall pale 
yellow of large size and great vigor, and Yellow Jewel, a strong 
deep yellow, clear in color and with wonderful branching. Mr. 
Smith is a new Director of the American Iris Society and w r e need 
these younger iris enthusiasts for in the years to come it is to 
them that we must turn to carry on the splendid work that is 
being done in America. 
The largest amateur collection of the tetter Bearded irises in 
America is in the garden of Mrs. Herman E. Lewis of Haverhill, 
Mass. She is Regional Vice-President of the New England Region 
of the American Iris Society, and has been an ardent collector of 
the different varieties ever since the first days of interest in irises 
in this country. For several years she has been hybridizing the 
Bearded ones, and this year I have chosen three for introduction 
from her garden. They are Mayling Soong, a beautiful smoothly 
finished medium yellow; Waban Waters, a pearly gray self, and 
Sunup, a deep yellow with a strong influence of copper throughout 
the flower. 
Mr. Joseph F. Wiesner of Saint Louis, Mo. has teen interested 
in iris breeding for quite some time, and two years ago he sent 
me several seedlings to try out in our northern climate, and I have 
selected one of them for introduction this year. It is Gallant 
Leader a very large warm red that was pronounced the finest iris 
exhibited at the Saint Louis Horticultural Society Show in 1936. 
Our genial Registrar of irises, Mr. Charles E. F. Gersdorff of 
Washington, D. C. has been hybridizing Siberian irises for several 
vears, and I have been testing many of them in my garden. Last 
blooming season I chose two as being especially good and different 
from varieties already in commerce. Night Sprite is a very at¬ 
tractive blue that gives the effect of a bi-color, and Skyblue 
Water a delightful pale chicory blue self, tall and well branched. 
Thelma Jean is the first introduction from Mr. Albert E. Peck 
of Framingham, Mass, and judging by the brilliancy of this iris 
we may hope for others from him with equal beauty and dis¬ 
tinction. Mr. Gage and I take pleasure in bringing this clear 
petunia violet to your especial notice. 
Mr. L. Merton Gage of Natick, Mass, needs no introduction 
to the iris w r orld for he has teen a very prominent breeder of 
irises for a great many years, and has given us some of the finest 
iris in commerce, and I am delighted to assist in the introduction 
of two of his new varieties Damerine and Red Bonnet, tw r o rich 
glow'ing reds, equally fine but entirely different in color, form, 
and habit. 
There is only one of my own iris seedlings that I am offering 
this year, it is Mountjoy a radiant red and yellow blend with ex¬ 
ceptional garden value. 
The hemerocallis introductions have been selected from thous¬ 
ands of seedlings growing in my country planting, and discrim¬ 
inating judges have pronounced them of exceptional merit and 
great additions to this group of popular plants. They are Chandra, 
a very late pale yellow; Bold Courtier, a stunning rose; Buttercup 
is a small flowered verv late deep yellow; Colleen, a lovely azalea 
pink; Dolly Varden, Chinese coral pink and rose; Glowing Em¬ 
bers is marigold orange flushed dark nasturtium red, tall and late 
blooming; Golden Scepter, a beautiful yellow with very firm wax- 
like substance: Nankin, a full ruffled yellow bi-color, tall and late: 
Petra is a glowing deep rose with wide reflexed petals; Romany 
Lass, a freely flowering dark mahoganv red, excellent for rock 
warden planting: Burning Star, a graceful ruby red lily type, and 
Tartar Prince, velvety maroon purple and the best of the early 
purples. 
Growing in my garden are many iris seedlings and named 
varieties from different breeders, these are to be tested as to their 
superiority over other varieties which are already in commerce. 
Also. I have imported many of the best new irises from France 
and England and these are awaitine release from quarantine by 
the Federal Government, but they will prove of interest to garden 
visitors during their blooming season. 
This year we have added to our catalogue the varieties that 
are listed under Introductions, and Novelties. I have chosen them 
after careful studv. and assure vou that thev are of exceptional 
merit and are worthv of a place in any garden. 
You are cordially invited to visit the garden and make your 
own selections of those that appeal to you. but if you cannot T 
will be pleased to give advice in choosing varieties, and will give 
it the same care and consideration as if T were selecting plants 
for my own garden. 
ELIZABETH NOBLE NESMITH 
